Reverse circulation tool



March 31, 1970 K. R. SHIRLEY REVERSE CIRCULATION TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3, 1968 11/ VEN TOE fir TOZNEY.

March 31, 1970 K. R. SHIRLEY I REVERSE CIRCULATION TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EA/role K/EK B SHIRLEY Filed. July 5, 1968 D Z71 roeysy.

United States Patent 3,503,461 REVERSE CIRCULATION TOOL Kirk R. Shirley, 182 E. Cameron Place, Long Beach, Calif. 90807 Filed July 3, 1968, Ser. No. 742,363 Int. Cl. E21b 17/00 US. Cl. 175-325 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reverse circulation tool for use in a string of pipe for drilling or enlarging well bores extending into or through subsurface earth formation, in which drilling fluid passes from the drill pipe into the annulus between the drill pipe and the well wall below a packer on the tool and engaged with the well wall, the fluid returning through the drill pipe and entering the annulus above the packer. Such a reverse circulation tool in which the packer remains non-rotative while the drill string rotates. Such a tool in which the packer is initially retracted, and is expanded into sealing engagement with the well wall responsive to the pressure of drilling fluid in the tool.

In the drilling of wells into or through the subsurface earth formation, it is sometimes the practice to employ what is known as reverse circulation of the drilling fluid in order to more effectively wash cuttings or scrapings from the well bore adjacent the drill bit or reaming tool, or the like, into the drill pipe and thence back to the top of the well, Moreover, devices for effecting such reverse circulation flow path of the drilling fluid have been devised, which are adapted to be installed in the string of well drilling pipe and which are provided with a crossover flow passage through which fluid is caused to flow from the drill pipe into the annular space between the drill pipe and the well wall or casing, as the case may be, below a packing or seal which is rotatably engaged with the well wall, the fluid flowing downwardly through the annular space and returning to the cross-over device through the drill pipe, and then passing through the crossover passage into the annular space between the drill pipe and the well wall above the packer or packing.

The present invention provides such a cross-over device adapted .to be installed in a string of well drilling pipe at a desired location, such as a number of joints of drill pipe below the usual drilling kelly, the tool providing a cross-over flow path leading from the drill pipe to the annular space between the drill pipe and the well wall below a packing carried by the cross-over device, and providing another flow path leading from the drill pipe into the annular space above the packing, and wherein the packing is adapted to remain non-rotative Within the well bore While the drill pipe is rotating to eflect the Well drilling or enlarging operations.

More particularly, the invention provides such a crossover device in which the packing is of the expansible type, being normally retracted out of sealing engagement with the well wall, but being expansible in response to the flow of drilling fluid through the cross-over passages.

In accomplishing the foregoing, an object of the invention is to provide a tool with comparatively few parts which may be easily assembled and disassembled, and which, when assembled, provide a rugged and durable cross-over assembly, the packing element of which will be long lived in that it will not be subjected to the effects 3,503,461 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 of rotation in the well bore, as in the case of the devices heretofore available for this purpose.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, illustrating a well drilling string extending into a Well bore and including a cross-over device made in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b together constitute a view in vertical section through the cross-over assembly, the packer being disengaged from the well wall; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating the packer expanded into engagement with the well wall.

In the illustration, a well bore W is shown as extending into the earth formation F, the well bore having been cased by a casing C set in the well bore in an upper portion thereof. A string of drill pipe D is shown as extending downwardly through the well easing into the well bore W and having at its lower end a typical well drilling bit B having roller cones R thereon adapted to drill through the earth formation F in response to rotation of the drill string D. Typically, the earth cuttings removed by the bit B are flushed to the top of the well by means of a drilling fluid, which, under some circumstances, is circulated downwardly through the drill string D, and from the drill bit B into the annular space A which is defined between the drill string D and the wall of the well bore W, or the casing C. In the present case, however, it is desired that the flow of drilling fluid be reversed so that at the bit B, the flow of drilling fluid is downwardly through the annular space A and upwardly through'the bit B into the drill string D.

A cross-over tool, generally denoted at T, is installed in the drill string D and includes a packing P illustrated in FIG. 1 as sealingly engaged with the well wall within the casing C. The cross-over tool includes a lower port 1 and an upper port 2 for the purpose of allowing drilling fluid to flow from the port 1 into the annular space A, and for allowing drilling fluid returning through the drill string D to pass from the drill string through the port 2 into the annular space A above the packing P, and thence to the top of the well.

The cross-over tool T comprises an elongated tubular body 3 adapted at one end to be connected to the drill string D as by the provision of an internally threaded box 4, which is threadedly engageable with a threaded pin 5 on a length of drill pipe 6 of the drill string D. At its other end, the body 3 is provided with a threaded pin 7 adapted to engage in the threaded box 8 of a lower length of drill pipe 9 in the drill string D. Internally, the body 3 is provided with a bore 10 in which is disposed an elongated cross-over tube 11, this tube extending longitudinally in the bore 10 and being connected at its lower end to a bushing 12 disposed within the pin end 7 of the tool body 3. This bushing 12 tightly fits within the bore 10 at the pin end 7 of the body 3 and is suitably retained in place,

as by a weld 13, another weld 14 being provided to interconnect the cross-over flow tube 11 with the bushing 12. At its upper end, the cross-over fiow tube 11 has a closure plug 15 welded therein, as at 16. A lateral port member 17 is disposed in the radial bore 18 which leads into the longitudinal bore 10 of the body 3, the port member 17 defining the port 2 leading from the annulus A into the cross-over tool, and, more particularly, into the cross-over flow tube 11. This port 2 communicates through a passage 20 formed by the tube 11 with an opening 19 provided in the bushing 12, so that the tool includes a first flow passage which leads between the port 2 and the opening 19, the ports being axially spaced along the body 3 so that the tube 11 spans the packing means P, previously referred to, so as to conduct fluid between the annulus A above the packer and the drill pipe string D below the packer P.

The cross-over flow tube 11 is smaller than the bore 10 within the body 3 so as to provide a space 21 therebetween which communicates with the previously mentioned port 1, which is located below the packer P. Thus, the tool T also includes a second flow passage leading from the bore 10 above the packer P into the annulu A below the packer P.

The packer P comprises a generally cylindrical body 22 of elastomeric material having an initial outside diameter less than the diameter of the well bore or casing in which the packer is to be ultimately set. This packer element 22 is disposed about the body 3, and at its lower end is engaged with a supporting ring 23 which is revolvably disposed upon the body 3 by hearing means, illustratively including a number of balls 24, disposed in opposing annular grooves 25 and 26 in the inner face of the packer support 23 and the outer face of the body 3, respectively. Within the plane of the grooves 25 and 26 is a radial opening 27 adapted to be closed by a screw 28, whereby the balls 24 may be installed in the opposing grooves 25 and 26, so as to not only prevent relative longitudinal movement of the packer support 23 along the body 3, but so as to also allow freedom of rotation of the body 3 within the packer support 23. The normal inside diameter of the packer element 22 is larger than the outside diameter of the support 23 providing a space 22a when the packer is released.

The packer support 23, at its lower end, is provided with a bore 29 adapted to receive suitable sealing ring means 30 which are retained in place by a gland 31 threadedly connected, as at 32, to the packer support 23, so as to allow the packing rings 30 to be loaded into sealing engagement with the outside of the body 3 and with the packer support 23.

If desired, a suitable lubricant fitting 33 may be provided in a threaded bore 33a leading into the space between the bearing balls 24 and the packing rings 30 of the packer support 23. A similar lubricant fitting 33b may be provided above the packer element.

At its upper end, the packer rubber 22 is provided with a gauge ring 34 having a downwardly extended lip 35 provided with an inner inclined face 36, and means are provided for forcing this gauge ring 34 axially toward the packer support 23 so as to deform the packing rubber 22 axially and cause expansion of the same outwardly into sealing engagement with the well wall, as shown in FIG. 3. The means for effecting such axial movement of the gauge ring 34 comprises, in the illustrative embodiment, an axially shiftable sleeve 37 slidably disposed upon the body 3 and having a bore 38 adapted to receive suitable packing rings 39, which, like the packing rings 30, are adapted to be forced into sealing engagement with the body 3 and with the sleeve 37 by means of a gland 40 threadedly connected, as at 41, to the lower end of the sleeve 37 and abutting with the gauge ring 34. The abovementioned lubricant fitting 331) is in this sleeve 37 in a bore 33c.

This sleeve 37 has an upwardly extended skirt 42 which is slidably disposed about a set of packing rings 43 which are confined between a pair of spaced rings 44 and 45, each of which rings 44 and 45 is rotatably supported upon the tool body 3 by means of balls, respectively designated 46 and 47, engaged in opposing grooves extending circumferentially about the body 3 and within the rings 44 and 45. The balls 46 and 47 are adapted to be placed in the opposing grooves through radial passages 48 in the respective rings 44 and 45, and screws 49 are adapted to close the passages following assembly of the rings on the body 3 with the packing rings 43 therebetween.

An annular chamber 50 is defined between the lowermost ring 44 and the sleeve 37, and a radial port 51 leads from the bore 10 of the body 3 into the chamber 50 so that fluid under pressure admitted to the chamber 50 will force the sleeve 37 downwardly to cause downward movement of the gauge ring 34 and expansion of the packer rubber 22, as previously indicated.

In the use of the tool T in a well drilling or well bore enlarging operation, the tool will be made up in the drill pipe string D, for example, a few lengths of such drill pipe below the usual drilling kelly (not shown) which extends through the usual rotary table (not shown) by which rotation of the drill string D is effected. As the drilling or well enlarging operation progresses and the drilling fluid is circulated downwardly through the drill pipe string D, the fluid will flow downwardly through the space 21 defined between the cross-over flow tube 11 and the bore wall 10 and will pass outwardly through the port 1 into the annular space A below the packing means P. The pressure of fluid passing through the bore 10 of the tool will be applied to the annular area of the sleeve 37 exposed in the chamber 50, effecting a downward force on the packer gauge ring 34 which will cause expansion or deformation of the packer rubber 22 into sealing and non-rotative engagement with the well wall, defined in the illustrative embodiment, by the casing C. However, the body 3 of the tool T will revolve within the bottom packer support 23, the packer rubber 22, and its gauge ring 34, as well as within the sleeve 37 and the upper packing rings 43, as permitted by the balls 24, 46 and 47, respectively. The drilling fluid from the port 1 will pass downwardly through the annular space A so as to effectively flush the cuttings from the well W into the bit B, and thence upwardly through the drill string D into the inlet 19 leading to the passage 20 defined by the crossover tube 11, such fluid then flowing out of the crossover tube 11 through the port 2 into the annular space A disposed above the packing means P, and thence to the top of the well.

Inasmuch as the packer rubber 22 remains stationary within the well bore while the tool body 3 revolves therein, the rapid wear or deterioration of the packing element will be effectively avoided, and the coengaged revolvable surfaces may be effectively lubricated by lubricant admitted through the fittings 33 and 33b in the bottom packer support 23 and in the sleeve 37, respectively, below and above the packed rubber 22.

During the drilling operation, the drill string D is progressively lowered to maintain the appropriate drilling weight of the bit R against the bottom of the hole. Despite the fact that packing P remains expanded against the wall of the well casing C, drilling can progress since the packing P merely slides downwardly along the wall of the casing C, without any damage being inflicted upon it.

When the pumping of fluid through the apparatus ceases, the pressure within the chamber 50 decreases and the packing 22 shifts inherently to its initial retracted position disclosed in FIGS. 2a and 2b, free from contact with the wall of the casing C, the cylinder or sleeve 37 being pushed upwardly by the retracting packing to its initial position. The drill pipe string D can now be elevated, if desired, in the well casing, as, for example, in connection with adding another section of drill pipe to the apparatus, so that drilling of the well bore can progress. The drill pipe D above the cross-over apparatus T and the cross-over apparatus are removed from the well bore, and another section of drill pipe added to the section 9 below the body 3, whereupon such body is reconnected to the added section or length of drill pipe. The drilling string is again lowered until the drilling bit R engages the bottom of the hole, and the pumping of fluid into the upper portion of the drill pipe string D recommenced, the pressure built up in the annulus 21 and the chamber 50 against shifting the cylinder or sleeve 37 downwardly to reexpand the packing 22 against the wall of the well casing.

I claim:

1. In a cross-over tool for use in a string of well drill pipe disposed in a well to cause the flow of driling fluid from the drill string to the outside of the drill string and from the outside of the drill string into the drill string: an elongated tubular tool body having a bore therein, axially spaced ports in said body, means defining a crossover flow path in said bore leading from one of said ports to the end of the bore past the other of said ports, initially retracted packer means on said body between said ports for sealing engagement with the well wall, means for shortening said packer means to expand said packer means against the well wall, and means mounting said packer means on said body for rotation of said body relative to said packer means.

2. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said packer means includes a cylindrical body of elastomeric material, and said shortening means including means for relatively moving the opposite ends of said cylindrical body toward each other to deform said cylindrical body axially to cause outward expansion thereof into sealing engagement with the well wall.

3. A cross-over tool is defined in claim 1, wherein said packer means includes a cylindrical body of elastomeric material, and said shortening means including means responsive to the pressure of drilling fluid in said bore for relatively moving the opposite ends of said cylindrical body toward each other to deform said cylindrical body' axially to cause outward expansion thereof into sealing engagement with the well wall.

4. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said means mounting said packer means for rotation of said body relative to said packer means comprises members disposed about said body above and below said packer means, and bearing means mounting said members on said body.

5. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said means mounting said packer means for rotation of said body relative to said packer means comprises members disposed about said body above and below said packer means, and bearing means mounting said members on said body, said bearing means comprising opposing grooves in said body and said members and balls in said opposing grooves.

6. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said means mounting said packer means for rotation of said body relative to said packer means comprises members disposed about said body above and below said packer means, bearing means mounting said members on said body, and including seal means interposed between said members and said tool body.

7. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 1, wherein said means defining a cross-over flow path within said bore includes a flow tube leading from one of said ports at one end of said tube past said other of said ports at the other end of said tube, and a bushing connected to said other end of said tube and communicating with said bore.

8. In a cross-over tool for use in a string of Well drill pipe disposed in a well to cause the flow of drilling fluid from the drill string to the outside of the drill string and from the outside of the drill string into the drill string: an elongated tubular body having a bore therein, axially spaced ports in said body, means defining a cross-over flow path in said bore leading from one of said ports to the end of the bore past the other of said ports, packer means on said body between said ports for sealing engagement with the well wall, and means mounting said packer means on said body for rotation of said body relative to said packer means, wherein said packer means includes a cylindrical body of elastomeric material, and including means for deforming said cylindrical body axially to cause outward expansion thereof into sealing engagement with the well wall, said means mounting said packer means for rotation of said body relative to said packer means comprising members disposed about said body above and below said packer means, and bearing means rotatably mounting said members on said body.

9. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 8, wherein said deforming means includes means responsive to the pressure of drilling fluid in said bore.

10. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 8, wherein said deforming means includes means responsive to the pressure of drilling fluid in said bore, and including seal means interposed between said members and said tool body.

11. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 8, wherein said deforming means includes means responsive to the pressure of drilling fluid in said bore, and including seal means interposed between said members and said tool body, and means for admitting a lubricant between said members and said body above and below said packer means.

12. In a cross-over tool for use in a string of well drill pipe disposed in a well to cause the flow of drilling fluid from the drill string to the outside of the drill string and from the outside of the drill string into the drill string: an elongated tubular tool body having a bore therein, axially spaced ports in said body, means defining a cross-over flow path in said bore leading from one of said ports to the end of the bore past the other of said ports, packer means on said body between said ports for sealing engagement with the well wall, and means mounting said packer means on said body for rotation of said body relative to said packer means, wherein said packer means includes a cylindrical body of elastomeric material disposed about said tool body, a stationary ring at one end of said elastomeric body, a shiftable ring at the other end of said elastomeric body, and fluid pressure responsive means for shifting said shiftable ring toward said stationary ring to deform said elastomeric body axially and effect its expansion into sealing engagement with said well wall.

13. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 12, wherein said fluid pressure responsive means including a sleeve slidably disposed about said body, means on said sleeve and on said body defining a pressure chamber, and a port leading from said bore in said tool body into said pressure chamber.

14. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 12, wherein said fluid pressure responsive means including a sleeve slidably disposed about said body and having an axially extended skirt, seal means on said body slidably engaged by said skirt, a pressure chamber between said sleeve and said seal means, and a port leading from said bore in said tool body into said pressure chamber.

15. A cross-over tool as defined in claim 12, wherein said fluid pressure responsive means including a sleeve slidably disposed about said body and having an axially extended skirt, seal means on said body slidably engaged by said skirt, seal means slidable between said sleeve and said body, a pressure chamber between said seal means, and a port leading from said bore in said tool body into said pressure chamber.

16. In a cross-over tool for use in a string of well drill pipe disposed in a well to cause the flow of drilling fluid from the drill string to the outside of the drill string and from the outside of the drill string into the drill string: an

elongated tubular tool body having a bore therein, axially spaced ports in said body, means defining a cross-over flow path in said bore leading from one of said ports to the end of the bore past the other of said ports, packer means on said body between said ports for sealing engagement with the well wall, and means mounting said packer means on said body for rotation of said body relative to said packer means, wherein said packer means includes a cylindrical body of elastomeric material disposed about said tool body, a stationary ring at one end of said elastorneric body, a shiftable ring at the other end of said elastomeric body, and means for shifting said shiftable ring toward said stationary ring to deform said elastomeric body axially and effect its expansion into sealing engagement with the well wall, said elastomeric body having an undeformed outside diameter smaller than the well wall and an undeformed inside diameter greater than said tool body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 462,392 11/1891 Bullock 175-325 X 1,764,488 6/1930 Zublin 166242 X 2,365,639 12/1944 Holmes et a1. 16651 2,543,382 2/1951 Schabarum 175215 X 2,708,567 5/1955 Hildebrandt 175-325 X 3,109,501 11/1963 Pugh 175325 3,316,969 5/1967 Smith 166-187 X 3,417,830 12/1968 Nichols 175209 DAVID H. BROWN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

